tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post4734066547122436993..comments2024-03-28T13:08:26.494-04:00Comments on Religion & American Law: Big Mountain JesusBrantley Gasawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894338478934982958noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-9256840922103955402011-12-11T19:53:56.060-05:002011-12-11T19:53:56.060-05:00I believe removing this statue would show more hos...I believe removing this statue would show more hostility towards religion than it would if the statue was kept up. It is meant to stand as a monument representing a site in Italy. While observers may not know of the history behind the statue and therefore, establishment of religion may be assumed, perhaps a way to fix this is to place a sign next to the monument explaining its significant history and to outside observers. This would clear up any confusion and make the message of the statue more secular.Justin Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16331477213444620432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-1286157341114121522011-12-07T00:32:55.141-05:002011-12-07T00:32:55.141-05:00As several previous commentators wrote, the phrase...As several previous commentators wrote, the phrase "hostility to religion" immediately jumped to my mind as well. To be honest, I feel it is an audacious statement to argue that an observer is going to see a statue on the ski slopes and make the connection that Whitefish resort rents the land from the federal government, thus this is federal land, thus the government must specifically approve this statue and favor this religion. Even though I am usually in favor of strict separation, this just seems hostile.Callie Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01362166860206275075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-26171475397328050222011-12-05T22:49:51.245-05:002011-12-05T22:49:51.245-05:00I agree with Andrew that removing this statue woul...I agree with Andrew that removing this statue would show hostility towards a religion. I believe that Big Mountain Jesus should be allowed to stay based on tradition and the secular purpose of the statue. Also, the state should allow any other religious group who wants to have their monument on top of the mountain be allowed to do so. And to Harry’s point about the reasonable observer I suggest that if it is that important to the question over establishment, a sign should be made explaining the history of Big Mountain Jesus.Allison Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00751308319211025853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-85630975803035629982011-12-05T10:59:58.133-05:002011-12-05T10:59:58.133-05:00I do not agree with Andrew that removal of the sta...I do not agree with Andrew that removal of the statue would show hostility towards religion. Hostility was discussed in Van Orden as a concern if only religious monuments were removed. However, there are no secular statues near the Jesus statue. A reasonable observer on the ski slopes would not know about the historical significance of the monument but would instead see a large Jesus statue and infer religious endorsement.Harry R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14904234636407712910noreply@blogger.com